garrulous

[gar-uh-luh s, gar-yuh-] /ˈgær ə ləs, ˈgær yə-/

adjective

excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, especially about trivial matters.

wordy or diffuse:

a garrulous and boring speech.

Origin

1605-15; < Latin garrulus talkative, garrulous, equivalent to garr(īre) to chatter + -ulus -ulous

Related forms

garrulously, adverb

garrulousness, noun

nongarrulous, adjective

nongarrulously, adverb

nongarrulousness, noun

ungarrulous, adjective

ungarrulously, adverb

ungarrulousness, noun

Synonyms

1. prating, babbling. See talkative. 2. verbose, prolix.

Antonyms

1. reticent, uncommunicative, taciturn, close-mouthed.

Examples from the web for garrulous

Kids go from goo-goo to garrulous one step at a time.
Birds, which had erupted into a garrulous evensong at the first hints of the false twilight, were abruptly silent.
His garrulous, neurotic characters yammer on and on, their logorrhea half the fun (and often taking up more than half the space).
Most of the victims become garrulous, in effect talking themselves to death.
She is the kind of garrulous star witness dear to the hearts of showbiz historians and gossip mongers.
His poetry is garrulous, intellectually incisive and adjectivally rich.
But what the powerful disdain, the bookish and garrulous adore.
So far, suburban commutes seem to have a more garrulous nature as opposed to the purposeful isolation of subway riders.
Nature is garrulous to the point of confusion, let the artist be truly taciturn.
Outgoing, ebullient and garrulous - often like his reviews - he loves restaurants and chefs.

British Dictionary definitions for garrulous

garrulous

/ˈɡærʊləs/

adjective

given to constant and frivolous chatter; loquacious; talkative

wordy or diffuse; prolix

Derived Forms

garrulously, adverb
garrulousness, garrulity (ɡæˈruːlɪtɪ) noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin garrulus, from garrīre to chatter

Contemporary definitions for garrulous

adjective

talkative; wordy

Word Origin

Latin garrulus 'talkative'

adjective

chattering; babbling

Word Origin

Latin garrulus 'talkative'

Word Origin and History for garrulous

adj.

1610s, from Latin garrulus "talkative," from garrire "to chatter," from PIE root *gar- "to call, cry," of imitative origin (cf. Greek gerys "voice, sound," Ossetic zar "song," Welsh garm, Old Irish gairm "noise, cry"). Related: Garrulously; garrulousness.